OPENING: Operation Exposure: An IVAW and Just Seeds Collaboration (Chicago in War)

Operation Exposure: A Justseeds and IVAW Collaborative Art Action

A project of Just Seeds and IVAW that uses Graphic installations to expose the traumas of war in everyday America with an exhibition of posters at Mess Hall along with wheat pasting installations throughout the city.

Sunday November 14th, 7:00pm

Mess Hall: 6932 North Glenwood Avenue in Rogers Park in Chicago

CTA Red Line stop: Morse

Come join over twenty artists from Justseeds and members from the Chicago-chapter of Iraq Veterans Against the War for an art show and run-up to an action where new prints by Justseeds about the new IVAW campaign “Operation Recovery: Stop the Deployment of Traumatized Troops” and G.I. Resistance will be wheatpasted up in Chicago to cover up advertisements and “bring the war home.” This project is part of the month-long series “Chicago in War.

IVAW writes “we recognize that we must stop the deployment of all soldiers in order to end these occupations, we see the deployment of soldiers with traumatic brain injuries, post traumatic stress disorder, and military sexual trauma as particularly cruel, dangerous, and inhumane. Military commanders across all branches are pushing service members far past human limits for the sake of combat readiness. We cannot allow those commanders to ignore the welfare of their troops. From multiple deployments despite PTSD, TBI, and other injuries, to rampant sexual assault within the military, soldiers are consistently being denied their right to heal. This basic right is being denied and we must organize to get it back. The reason why this is such a strategic campaign for IVAW is because one-third of the military is on psychotropic drugs and is still being deployed over seas. Taking out one-third of the military force would cripple their ability to continue these occupations.”

Chicago in War is a series of events, art shows, and performances that explores the continued rupturing of the traumas of war in everyday America.

Chicago is in a war! The occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan have and will continue to leave deep scars in our hearts, minds; and for some of us these scars are emblazoned on our physical bodies and memories. Too often these occupations are swept from our conscience, into the alleys of our streets, in the corners of our city and our collective minds. If they are ever to come to end, their myriad effects must be recognized, unearthed, uncovered, demystified , and exposed!